Shaping control method and shaping control apparatus

ABSTRACT

An object of the present invention is to provide a shaping control method capable of performing a shaping for large amount of connections with a large degree of accuracy.  
     The present invention is provided with a theoretical transfer time calculator  1,  a theoretical transfer time holding section  2,  a second time managing section  3,  a theoretical transfer time acquisition section  4,  a first time managing section  5,  and a transfer determining section  6.  The second time managing section  3  holds information relating to connections in waiting transfer, by dividing into standardized time slots. A portion of connection information stored in the second time managing section  3  is stored in the first time managing section  5.  The information relating to connections in waiting is stored in the first time managing section  5  or the second time managing section  3.  Because of this, it is possible to perform a shaping in stages for the same shaping subject, and perform a shaping of large amount of connections with a high degree of accuracy. It is possible to perform an optimum shaping for a plurality of shaping subjects different from each other.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The subject application is related to subject matter disclosed inJapanese Patent Application No. 2000-33288 filed on Feb. 10, 2000 inJapan to which the subject application claims priority under ParisConvention and which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a shaping control method and ashaping control apparatus for controlling a transfer rate of packets sothat the transfer rate does not overrun a predetermined reference rate.

[0004] 2. Related Background Art

[0005] In packet communication, control called as a shaping formaintaining the transfer rate within the reference rate that vendors setis performed to improve use efficiency of lines, so that the transferrate does not overrun a predetermined limit.

[0006] As conventional techniques, there is provided with a method fordetermining in advance a time slot to transfer the packets and managingby e.g. a list, which is called as a time slot ahead determining method,and a method for scanning information of all elements before thetransfer time of the packets and determining whether or not to be ableto transfer them by each scan, which is called as a method of scanningat transfer time.

[0007] The time slot ahead determining method calculates a transfer-abletime of the connections that the packets belong, and inserts the packetsinto the list in which the packets are arranged in transfer order. Incase of this method, the arriving order of the packet is generallydifferent from the transfer order of the packet. Because of this, ifnecessary, a processing which scans the already lined-up elements andsorts them in transfer-able time order is required. Accordingly, inorder to correctly set the transfer order, it is necessary to scan allthe elements and compare a theoretical transfer time of each elementwith each other.

[0008] However, because there is a limit for the number of times ofaccess for hold means memorizing the elements, the number of theelements which can scan in transfer cycle of the packets is limited.Accordingly, it is difficult to perform the shaping for large amount ofconnections with a high degree of accuracy.

[0009] On the other hand, because the method of scanning at transfertime scans the elements transfer-able from all the elements, it ispossible to take e.g. conditions of a physical layer that theconnections are connected into account. However, the condition of thephysical layer changes by each packet, and a time when the packets ofthe connections with high speed rate are held in the hold means isshort. Because of this, it is necessary to scan all the elements at eachpacket cycle in order to perform the high-precision shaping. However, asdescribed above, because there is a limit to the number of times ofaccess for the hold means, it is difficult to perform the shaping forlarge amount of connections with a high degree of accuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a shapingcontrol method and a shaping control apparatus capable of performing ashaping for large amount of connections with a large degree of accuracy.

[0011] In order to achieve the foregoing object, a shaping controlmethod of performing shaping control so that transfer speed of packetsis within a reference speed predetermined in advance,

[0012] wherein said shaping control method sets accuracy of transfertime of connections that the packets belongs, in accordance with timeinterval up to an actual transfer time of the connections in stages, byeach of shaping subjects.

[0013] According to the present invention, because transfer order ofconnections that packets belong is set by each of shaping subjects instages, it is possible to perform shaping large amount of connectionswith a large degree of accuracy.

[0014] Furthermore, the present invention has first hold means forholding information relating to theoretical transfer time by dividing attime unit different by each of categories of connections such as typesof output ports, types of line qualities and types of communicationspeeds. Because of this, it is possible to set transfer order optimum byeach category of the connections.

[0015] Furthermore, a shaping control apparatus of performing shapingcontrol so that transfer speed of packets is within a reference speedpredetermined in advance, comprising:

[0016] theoretical transfer time calculating means configured tocalculate theoretical transfer time of connections that packets belong;

[0017] first holding means configured to hold information relating tothe calculated theoretical transfer time by dividing into standardizedtime slots, while connecting with the connections that the packetsbelong;

[0018] second holding means configured to add information relating totransfer order to a portion of said information held in said firstholding means, and hold the added information while connecting with theconnections that the packets belong; and

[0019] extracting means configured to compare the theoretical transfertime corresponding to said information held in said second holding meanswith a reference time, and extract the information before said referencetime,

[0020] wherein the packets belonging to the connections are transferredbased on the information extracted by said extracting means.

[0021] Furthermore, a shaping control method of performing shapingcontrol so that transfer speed of packets is within a reference speedpredetermined in advance, comprising:

[0022] theoretical transfer time calculating means configured tocalculate a theoretical transfer time of connections that packetsbelong;

[0023] packet information holding means configured to hold informationrelating to the packets by each connection, before said theoreticaltransfer time calculating means calculate the theoretical transfer timeof the connection that the packets belong;

[0024] first holding means configured to divide the calculatedinformation relating to said theoretical transfer time at standardizedtime unit, and hold the divided information while connecting with theconnection that the packet belongs;

[0025] second holding means configured to add a portion of saidinformation held in said first holding means to information relating totransfer order, and hold the added information while connecting with theconnection that the packet belongs; and

[0026] extracting means configured to extract a packet of the sameconnection as the connection that the packet transferred from saidsecond holding means belongs, from said packet information holdingmeans, and transfer the extracted packet to said theoretical transfertime calculating means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027]FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the basic principle of thepresent invention;

[0028]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a shapingcontrol apparatus according to the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing internal configuration of a secondtime managing section;

[0030]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing internal configuration of a first timemanaging section;

[0031]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing operation of atheoretical transfer time calculating section;

[0032]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a modified example of a firstembodiment having more than two types of time managing sections;

[0033]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a shapingcontrol apparatus according to the present invention; and

[0034]FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a modified example of a secondembodiment having more than two types of time managing sections.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] First of all, a basic principle of the present invention will beexplained. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the basic principle of thepresent invention. The present invention is provided with a plurality ofholding means capable of storing packets. Each of the holding means isarranged in order of time series. FIG. 1 shows an example in which theholding means arranged at a location nearest to a transfer time of thepacket is called as first holding means 11, the holding means next tothe first holding means 11 is called as second holding means 12, and theholding means arranged at a location farthest from the transfer time ofthe packet is called as nth (n is an integer more than 1) holding means1 n.

[0036] The packets are firstly held to the holding means of a highorder, and then they are transferred to the holding means of a lowerorder in turn. Eventually, they are held to first holding means 11, andthen transferred to outside in accordance with transfer order. Only onepacket of the same connection is held in the holding means of FIG. 1,and after the packet is transferred from the first holding means 11, anext packet of the same connection is held in any of the holding means.On the other hand, a plurality of packets corresponding to a pluralityof connections can simultaneously be held in any of the holding means ofFIG. 1. That is, when a plurality of packets exist in the holding meansof FIG. 1, each of the packets belongs to the connections different fromeach other. The packets from outside are not necessarily held in theholding means 11 of highest order. The packets may be held in theholding means of lower order, without being held in the holding means ofhigher order.

[0037] Here, a modified example that a plurality of the packetsbelonging to the same connection exists in the holding means of FIG. 1is feasible.

[0038] The first holding means 11 manage each packet in holding intransfer order. That is, each packet held in the first holding means 11is managed by the transfer time of each packet. On the other hand, theholding means 12-1 n of a high order equal to or more than second ordermanage each packet by dividing the packets in areas into standardizedtime unit. Accordingly, a plurality of the packets that the transfertimes are different from each other are stored at random in the samedivided area.

[0039] Among the holding means 12-1 n of the high order equal to or morethan second order, the holding means of a lower order has a timeinterval in which the time unit is narrower. Therefore, the holdingmeans of a lower order can manage the transfer time of the packets witha higher degree of accuracy than the holding means of a higher order.

[0040] Thus, the present invention has a plurality of the holding meansthat accuracy of time is different. First of all, the packet is held inthe holding means that accuracy of time is coarse, and then the packetis gradually transferred to the holding means of a higher order, andfinally the transfer order is set to store in the first holding means11, and then the packets are transferred to outside in order. Because ofthis, it is possible to perform the shaping of large amount of theconnections with a high degree of accuracy.

[0041] A shaping control apparatus according to the present inventionwill now be concretely described hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

[0042]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a shapingcontrol apparatus according to the present invention. The shapingcontrol apparatus of FIG. 2 has a theoretical transfer time calculator(theoretical transfer time calculating means) 1, a theoretical transfertime holding section 2, a second time managing section (first holdingmeans) 3, a theoretical transfer time acquisition section (identifiersetting means) 4, a first time managing section (second holding means)5, and a transfer determining section (extracting means) 6.

[0043] The theoretical transfer time holding section 2 holds atheoretical transfer time such as a peak rate or a sustainable rate byeach of shaping subjects such as a vertical path (VP) or a verticalconnection (VC), while connecting with the connections that the packetsbelongs.

[0044] The theoretical transfer time calculating section 1 calculatesthe theoretical transfer time of the connection that the packet belongs,and updates the time held in the theoretical transfer time holdingsection 2 based on the calculated result.

[0045] The second time managing section 3 holds information relating tothe connection waiting the transmission by dividing at a standardizedtime unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the second timemanaging section 3, and shows an example of sorting the connectionswaiting the transmission at a prescribed time slot. Each of regions inFIG. 3 corresponds to the time slot.

[0046]FIG. 3 shows an example that time series TG1-TG3 have time slotsdifferent from each other. The time series TG1 have the time slotsTD11-TD1 n, the time series TG2 have the time slots TD21-TD2 n, and thetime series TG3 have the time slots TD31-TD3 n.

[0047] The time series TG1-TG3 of FIG. 3 show an example sorted inaccordance with the transfer speed, and unit time of the time slot athigh speed side, which shows the time interval allotted to a single timeslot, is shorter than unit time of the time slot at low speed side. Forexample, unit time of the time series TG1 of FIG. 3 is 16 packet cycles,unit time of the time series TG2 is 64 packet cycles, and unit time ofthe time series TG3 is 256 packet cycles.

[0048] There is provided with a time series indicator for discriminatingbetween a head time slot and a last time slot by each time series. Here,the head time slot shown by the time series indicator, which is shown atleft end in FIG. 3, is the time slot nearest to current time, and thelast time slot, which is shown at right end in FIG. 3, is the time slotfarthest from current time.

[0049] In the time series TG1 of FIG. 3, the time series proceed frompast to future in order of the time slots TD11-TD1 n. In the time slotTD11, gathering of the theoretical transfer time of the connectiontransferred to the head time slot of the time series TG1 isaccommodated. In the time slot TD1 n, gathering of the theoreticaltransfer time of the connection transferred to the last time slot of thetime series TG1 is accommodated.

[0050] Similarly, in the time series TG2, the time series proceed frompast to future in order of the time slots TD21-TD2 n. In the time slotTG3, the time series proceed from past to future in order of the timeslots TD31-TD3 n.

[0051] A time slot indicator for managing a head location, a lastlocation, and a length of elements in the time slots is provided at eachof the time slots in FIG. 3. Here, direction from the head location tothe last location of the time slot indicator expresses connection orderof the elements in the time slot, and is not necessarily connected withtraveling direction of time.

[0052] The time series TG1-TG3 of FIG. 3 are set based on categories ofthe connections such as types of output ports, types of line qualities,and types of communication speeds. Each of the time series has astandardized time different from each other. The length of thesestandardized time is set based on the categories of the connections.

[0053] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the first managing section 5 ofFIG. 2 has a management table to associate a connection identifierconnected with the connections that the packet belongs, with atheoretical transfer time and a transfer-able identifier for expressingconformity to transfer time. The first time managing section 5 stores aportion of connection information stored in the second time managingsection 3 by move or copy operation.

[0054] At this time, it is desirable to transfer the connectioninformation stored in the second time managing section 3 to the firsttime managing section 5 by a LIFO (Last In First Out) method. Byemployment of the LIFO method, it is possible to shorten time requiredto search of the transferred information and read-out of theinformation. That is, because data stored in the second time managingsection 3 behind time is generally high-speed data, it is necessary totransfer the high-speed data as soon as possible. Accordingly, the LIFOmethod is more desirable than FIFO method.

[0055] The transfer determining section 6 of FIG. 2 compares thetheoretical transfer time held in the first time managing section 5 withcurrent time by each of packet cycles, and sets a transfer-ableidentifier of the connection corresponding to the theoretical transfertime showing current time or past of current time.

[0056] The transfer determining section 6 selects the connection to betransferred among the connection information relating to the connectionthat the transfer-able identifier is set, taking e.g. priority intoaccount, and then outputs the connection information via a signal line.The transfer determining section 6 calculates again the theoreticaltransfer time of the connection held in the theoretical transfer timeholding section 2, and updates the theoretical transfer time ifnecessary.

[0057]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing operation of thetheoretical transfer time calculating section 1. First of all, thetheoretical transfer time is calculated based on the time held in thetheoretical transfer time holding section 2 for the packets inputted viathe signal line (step S1).

[0058] Here, the theoretical transferring time of each packet such as apeak rate and a sustainable rate of the shaping is calculated. Theshaping subjects are, for example, types of the output ports, types ofline qualities, types of communication speeds, and types of the virtualpaths.

[0059] Next, in step S2, whether or not time difference between thecalculated transfer time and current time is within a prescribed time,for example, within unit time of each time slot is determined. When thetime difference is within a prescribed time, the theoretical transfertime calculator 1 stores the calculated theoretical transfer time to thefirst time managing section 5, while connecting the calculatedtheoretical transfer time with the connection information, as shown instep S3.

[0060] Next, whether or not the above-mentioned time difference is zerois determined, as shown in step S4. When the time difference is zero,that is, the theoretical transfer time coincides with current time, thetransfer-able identifier in accordance with the corresponding connectionin the first time managing section 5 is set to be the transfer-ableidentifier, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0061] On the other hand, when the above-mentioned time difference ismore than the prescribed time, the corresponding time slot is calculatedfrom the theoretical transfer time, and the theoretical transfer time isheld in a queue of the corresponding time slot of the second timemanaging section 3 based on the information of the time slot identifier,while connecting with the connection information, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0062] At this time, when the calculated theoretical transfer time isnearer in future than time zone of the last time slot provided in orderof the time series, the theoretical transfer time is held in the lasttime slot that the same time series indicator shows, while connectingwith the connection information. Arrangement in the time slot is notnecessarily the time order of the theoretical transfer time.

[0063] The theoretical transfer time acquisition section 4 of FIG. 2selects the time series in the second time managing section 3 by methodssuch as priority, and picks up a plurality of the connection informationof the theoretical transfer time from the time slot that gatheringtransferred at head of the time series is held. The picked-up connectioninformation is held in the first time managing section 5, whileconnecting with the connection information.

[0064] For example, when the time series TG1 is selected, among thequeue of the head time slot that the time series indicator of the timeseries shows, a plurality of elements of the head time slot that thetime slot indicator of the time slot shows are extracted. Thetheoretical transfer time acquisition section 4 can select theconnection information among a plurality of time slots.

[0065] At this time, when each of the theoretical transfer time held inthe first time managing section 5 coincides with current time or is pastof current time, the transfer-able identifier is set while connectingwith the theoretical transfer time held in the first time managingsection 5.

[0066] Thus, the present embodiment sorts and stores the connectioninformation in the second time managing section 3 by each of the shapingsubjects, and then change the order of the connection information inorder of transmission. When the transmission is ready, the connectioninformation is transferred in the first time managing section 5. Becauseof this, it is possible to perform the shaping of large amount ofconnections with a high degree of accuracy.

[0067] Furthermore, it is possible to perform optimum shaping for aplurality of shaping subjects different from each other.

[0068] Whether or not to transfer the connection information held in thefirst time managing section 5 is discriminated by the transfer-ableidentifier. Because of this, it is possible to quickly determine whetheror not to transfer the connection information.

[0069] Because timing for transferring the connection information fromthe second time managing section 3 to the first time managing section 5is set based on the result of comparing the calculated theoreticaltransfer time with the reference time, it is possible to arbitrarilychange contents of the first time managing section 5.

[0070] Incidentally, FIG. 2 shows an example of having two types of thetime managing sections 3 and 5. As shown in FIG. 6, more than two typesof the time managing sections may be provided. In case of FIG. 6, thetheoretical transfer time acquisition section 4 is provided inaccordance with each of the time managing sections 3 and 8. Each of morethan two types of the time managing sections 3 and 8 holds the packetsin the areas divided at the standardized time slot, respectively. Thetime managing section of higher order has the time interval longer inone area. If the number of the time managing section is increased, it ispossible to perform the shaping of larger amount of the connections witha high degree of accuracy.

Second Embodiment

[0071]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a shaping control apparatus accordingto the present invention. In FIG. 7, the same number is attached forconstituents common to FIG. 2. Hereinafter, points different from thefirst embodiment will be mainly described.

[0072] The shaping control apparatus of FIG. 7 is constituted of addinga packet information holding section 7 for constituents of FIG. 2. Thepacket information holding section 7 holds information relating to theinputted packets by each connection, before performing the calculatingoperation in the theoretical transfer time calculating section 1.

[0073] When the first time managing section 5 and the second timemanaging section 3 do not hold the information relating to theconnection, the transfer determining section 6 of FIG. 7 sends theinformation relating to the connection in the theoretical transfer timecalculator 1. On the other hand, when the first time managing section 5and the second time managing section 3 holds the information relating tothe connection, the transfer determining section 6 waits as it is.

[0074] When the packet is transferred outside, the transfer determiningsection 6 extracts the information relating to the same connection asthe connection that the packet belongs, from the packet informationholding section 7. The same processing as that of FIG. 5 is carried outfor the packets sent to the theoretical transfer time calculator 1.

[0075] Thus, the transfer determining section 6 of FIG. 7 controls sothat the packet belonging to the same connection or the informationconnected with the connection exists only one.

[0076] Because of this, the packets does not back up in the first timemanaging section 3 and the second time managing section 5, therebyaccurately calculating the transfer time of the packets. Accordingly, itis possible to minimize period after calculating the theoreticaltransfer time up to be actually transferred, thereby improving accuracyof the transfer time.

[0077] In the second embodiment, the time managing section 8 of morethan second order may be provided. The block diagram in this case isshown in FIG. 8. Each of more than one types of the time managingsections 3 and 8 is provided with the theoretical transfer timeacquisition section 4 a.

[0078] If time context between the time series and the time slot in atleast one of the first time managing section 5 and the second managingsection 3 is managed by list structure, it is possible to simplifyinternal configuration. Otherwise, at least one of the first timemanaging section 5 and the second time managing section 3 may beconstituted of a content-addressable memory.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shaping control method of performing shapingcontrol so that transfer speed of packets is within a reference speedpredetermined in advance, wherein said shaping control method setsaccuracy of transfer time of connections that the packets belongs, inaccordance with time interval up to an actual transfer time of theconnections in stages, by each of shaping subjects.
 2. The shapingcontrol method according to claim 1 , accuracy of the transfer time ofthe connections is set higher in stages at time nearer to an actualtransfer time of the connections.
 3. The shaping control methodaccording to claim 1 , wherein accuracy of the transfer time of theconnections is set in n (n is an integer equal to or more than 2)stages; wherein the packets of each connection are distributed to anyamong said n stages in accordance with time interval up to an actualtransfer time of the connections; and wherein in the stage that timeaccuracy is highest, the packets are managed in transfer order, and inthe other stages, the packets are managed by being divided intostandardized time slots.
 4. The shaping control method according toclaim 3 , time interval of time slot in a stage of mth order (m is aninteger equal to or more than 2) with reference to the actual transfertime of the connections is set shorter than that in a stage of (m+1)thorder.
 5. A shaping control apparatus of performing shaping control sothat transfer speed of packets is within a reference speed predeterminedin advance, comprising: theoretical transfer time calculating meansconfigured to calculate theoretical transfer time of connections thatpackets belong; first holding means configured to hold informationrelating to the calculated theoretical transfer time by dividing intostandardized time slots, while connecting with the connections that thepackets belong; second holding means configured to add informationrelating to transfer order to a portion of said information held in saidfirst holding means, and hold the added information while connectingwith the connections that the packets belong; and extracting meansconfigured to compare the theoretical transfer time corresponding tosaid information held in said second holding means with a referencetime, and extract the information before said reference time, whereinthe packets belonging to the connections are transferred based on theinformation extracted by said extracting means.
 6. The shaping controlapparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said theoretical transfer timecalculating means calculates again the theoretical transfer time of theconnection based on the transfer time of the connection that the packetextracted by said extracting means belongs.
 7. The shaping controlapparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said first holding means set aplurality of time series different from each other based on categoriesof the connections including at least one of types of output ports,types of line qualities and types of communication speeds, and divideinto these time series the connections that the packets belong.
 8. Theshaping control apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said firstholding means set a plurality of time series having standardized timedifferent from each other, and divide into these time series connectionsthat the packets belong.
 9. The shaping control apparatus according toclaim 8 , wherein said first holding means set standardized timescorresponding to a plurality of said time series, respectively, based oncategories of the connections including at least one of types of outputports, types of line qualities and types of communication speeds. 10.The shaping control apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein saidextracting means assign priorities based on the categories of theconnections, and allow a portion of said information held in said firstholding means to hold in said second holding means.
 11. The shapingcontrol apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said extracting meansassign priorities based on categories of said connections, and allow aportion of said information held in said first holding means to hold insaid second holding means.
 12. The shaping control apparatus accordingto claim 5 , wherein said second holding means allow a portion of saidinformation held in said first holding means to hold in said secondholding means, when time difference between the theoretical transfertime calculated by said theoretical transfer time calculating means andsaid reference time is within a prescribed time.
 13. The shaping controlapparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said second holding means holda transfer-able identifier showing whether or not to be able to transferthe connections that the packets belong can transfer, said identifierbeing connected, further comprising identifier setting means configuredto set said transfer-able identifier corresponding to the connectionsthat the packet having said theoretical transfer time before saidreference time belong, to be transfer-able, wherein said extractingmeans extract information relating to the connections that saidtransfer-able identifier is set to be transfer-able, among theconnections held in said second holding means.
 14. The shaping controlapparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said extracting means managesaid information held in said first holding means by a LIFO (Last InFast Out) method.
 15. A shaping control method of performing shapingcontrol so that transfer speed of packets is within a reference speedpredetermined in advance, comprising: theoretical transfer timecalculating means configured to calculate a theoretical transfer time ofconnections that packets belong; packet information holding meansconfigured to hold information relating to the packets by eachconnection, before said theoretical transfer time calculating meanscalculate the theoretical transfer time of the connection that thepackets belong; first holding means configured to divide the calculatedinformation relating to said theoretical transfer time at standardizedtime unit, and hold the divided information while connecting with theconnection that the packet belongs; second holding means configured toadd a portion of said information held in said first holding means toinformation relating to transfer order, and hold the added informationwhile connecting with the connection that the packet belongs; andextracting means configured to extract a packet of the same connectionas the connection that the packet transferred from said second holdingmeans belongs, from said packet information holding means, and transferthe extracted packet to said theoretical transfer time calculatingmeans.
 16. The shaping control apparatus according to claim 15 , whereinsaid packet information holding means transfer the information relatingto the packet to said theoretical transfer time calculating means sothat a plurality of packet belonging to the same connection does notexist in said first and second holding means.
 17. The shaping controlapparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said first holding means set aplurality of time series different from each other based on categoriesof the connections including at least one of types of output ports,types of line qualities and types of communication speeds, and divideinto these time series the connections that the packets belong.
 18. Theshaping control apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said firstholding means set a plurality of time series having standardized timedifferent from each other, and divide into these time series connectionsthat the packets belong.
 19. The shaping control apparatus according toclaim 17 , wherein said extracting means assign priorities based on thecategories of the connections, and allow a portion of said informationheld in said first holding means to hold in said second holding means.20. The shaping control apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein saidextracting means manage said information held in said first holdingmeans by a LIFO (Last In Fast Out) method.